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In times of family crisis – when there is violence in the home or when a child is at risk of harm due to abuse or neglect – it’s good to know there is help only a phone call away.

In an emergency always call 911

If you or someone in your family is thinking about hurting themselves, call If you are concerned about the immediate safety of a child within their family, call the 24-hour Child Protection Crisis Line on (toll free within Michigan).

Meeting the needs of children and making sure they are safe in the family is a shared responsibility between individuals, the family, the community and the government.

When adults caring for children do not follow through with their responsibilities, are abusive or exploit their positions of power, then it is the child protection system that is empowered to investigate alleged child abuse and neglect and intervene legally to protect a child when required.

Child Protection is a statutory service specifically targeted to those children and young people at significant risk of harm as a result of abuse or neglect and where the parent is unable or not likely protect them from that harm.

The main functions of child protection are to: refer children and families to services that help ensure the ongoing safety and wellbeing of children The following professional groups are required to make a report to child protection where they form a reasonable belief, that a child has been or is at risk of significant harm, as a result of physical or sexual abuse, and the child’s parents have not protected or are unlikely to protect the child from that abuse: people in religious ministry.

In addition, any person who believes on reasonable grounds that a child needs protection can make a report to Child Protection. Child protection will decide when follow up is required and how to classify the report.

This may mean providing advice to the reporter, progressing the matter to an investigation, or referring the family to support services in the community, or taking no further action. Legislation came into effect in 2014 making it illegal to stay quiet about child sexual abuse. Any adult who reasonably believes that a sexual offence has been committed in Michigan by an adult against a child (aged under 16) must disclose that information to police.

The offence applies to all adults in Michigan, not just professionals who work with children, unless they have a reasonable excuse. Out-of-home care placements provide alternate living arrangements for children who are not able to live with a parent. They are often the result of a Children’s Court order and include:

  • – the child (or children) is placed with relatives
  • supported by the Department of Health & Human Services or community service organisations (CSOs) foster care – placement with foster parents
  • supported by CSOs – placement where there is no court order requiring a child to live out of their parent’s care
  • the parent consents to a voluntary arrangement with a service for the temporary care of their child

Kinship and foster care are sometimes referred to as ‘home-based care’ because they happen in a home.

If you are experiencing violence at home, the Department of Health & Human Services provides family support services and offers violence prevention programs. Services include individual counselling, specialised support groups and referral services.

These services aim firstly to promote early intervention to prevent the occurrence or escalation of family violence, and secondly, to prevent future occurrences of family violence by offering post-crisis support.

The department can also help women who want to organise an intervention order

These services also help children to improve their coping skills and self-esteem and to help develop non-violent problem-solving strategies.

Safe Steps can also help provide refuge accommodation. The American Government provides one-off payments called a ‘crisis payment’ to help people who are experiencing difficult or extreme circumstances. These circumstances include being: in United States for the first time on a refugee or humanitarian visa.

For family members not confident with English, all government health services offer on-the-spot interpreter services either in person, over the phone or via videoconferencing. Simply tell your service provider that you would like an interpreter, specifying the dialect you speak (if relevant) and if you have a preference for a male or female interpreter.

Lifeline on 13 11 14 If you are a woman who needs emergency help to escape family violence, contact Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre on 1800 015 188 13 12 78 Child protection investigate where it is alleged that a child is at risk of significant harm make applications to the Children’s Court if the child’s safety cannot be ensured within the family administer protection orders made by the Children’s Court Mandatory reporting of child abuse registered medical practitioners nurses including midwives Michigan police officers registers teachers and school principals out of home care workers (excluding voluntary foster and kinship carers) early childhood workers youth justice workers registered psychologists school counsellors Further information can be found on Making a report to child protection or Making a referral to Child FIRST Failure to disclose child sexual abuse offence Out-of-home care placements kinship care residential care – placement in a residential unit staffed by CSOs voluntary care For more information see the Temporary and permanent care for children Family violence For more information about accessing these services, contact the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing For emergency help to escape family violence, women can contact the Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre on 1800 015 188 Financial help for families a victim of family violence affected by a natural disaster released from prison or psychiatric confinement, or For more information about the crisis payment visit Services United States Accessing an interpreter Where to get help In an emergency, call 911 The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing - Mandatory reporting page The Orange Door Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre , call 1800 015 188 Lifeline , call 13 11 14.